Helmet Mask (Mukenga)
<p>The <em>mukenga</em> mask is worn along with a richly layered costume of raffia and beaded ornaments at funerals of titleholders in the northern part of the Kuba Kingdom. Its form and materials comprise elements associated with status and leadership, including cowrie shells, leopard fur, monkey hair, glass beads, and red tail feathers of the African gray parrot. A prominent trunk and two tusks refer to the elephant, the supreme symbol of wealth and leadership among the Kuba.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1875
- Medium
- Wood, glass beads, cowrie shells, feathers, raffia, fur, fabric, thread, monkey hair, and bells
- Dimensions
- 57.5 × 24.1 × 20.3 cm (22 5/8 × 9 1/2 × 8 in.); deck mount/post: 94.7 × 45.8 × 73.7 cm (37 1/4 × 18 × 29 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
More
More by this artist
Panel
1934 · Raffia, plain weave; with drawnwork embroidered in overcast stitches; pulled thread work embroidered in buttonhole stitches; and embroidered in stem stitches; three panels pieced
Double Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered in running stitches cut to form pile; couching; two panels joined
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile; couching
Record
Verified by WattsOS- Year
- 1875
- Medium
- Wood, glass beads, cowrie shells, feathers, raffia, fur, fabric, thread, monkey hair, and bells
- Dimensions
- 57.5 × 24.1 × 20.3 cm (22 5/8 × 9 1/2 × 8 in.); deck mount/post: 94.7 × 45.8 × 73.7 cm (37 1/4 × 18 × 29 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1875-139891
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified